Minnesota’s House of Representatives circulated a poll at this year’s State Fair that asked attendees about the idea of allowing localities to enact bans on marijuana businesses within their borders. Most respondents who have an opinion on the issue agree with the policy, despite it not currently being a part of the state’s cannabis laws.
The survey, which touched on a variety of policy issues, asked: “Should cities and counties be allowed to prohibit cannabis businesses in their community?”
Minnesota legalized adult-use marijuana in 2023, but regulators are still working to implement licensed sales. Under the legislation that Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed, local governments are barred from preventing cannabis businesses in their jurisdiction—but House lawmakers evidently wanted to gauge public opinion on that local control option.
According to the survey results, a plurality (47 percent) are in favor of letting localities opt out of permitting marijuana businesses, while 41 percent said they oppose that policy. An additional 10 percent said they were undecided or have no opinion.
Nearly 10,000 people participated in the poll.
Advocates and regulators in legal cannabis states have cautioned that allowing local restrictions, especially in an emerging market, could undermine efforts to eradicate illicit sales
Read full article on Marijuana Moment
